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On Saturday
night, the Tar Heels drew plenty of attention for their giving nature, handing
out 30 assists on 31 field goals and spreading the scoring across 11 different
players.

But the
program quietly showed generosity in other ways last week. Last Wednesday, the
entire roster made its annual shopping trip, a tradition started by Roy
Williams at Kansas and imported to Chapel Hill. The assignment is simple: with
the help of several local organizations, each player is given a wish list from
a needy local family. Their job is to fill that wish list while staying under
the $70-per-person spending limit. Money from Carolina's annual sale of
autographed basketballs provides the funding.

Shopping
for total strangers can be a challenge, but the players--some of whom aren't
much older than the people for whom they're buying gifts--have a way of making
it enjoyable. Williams constantly reminds his players that they are more
fortunate than many others--locally, nationally and globally. "Help a teammate"
is a constant Tar Heel point of emphasis; shopping is a subtle reminder of the
importance of helping more than just a teammate.

That lesson
isn't lost on the Tar Heels. It's an especially personal reminder for some of
the players. "To be able to give back to families who are needy is a
heartwarming feeling," said Joel James. "I've always been on the receiving end
(of similar gestures). I've never been fortunate enough to go out and buy
things, especially for other people. It was a great feeling.

"From a
personal standpoint, I know how it feels to be on the receiving end. To go to
sleep not expecting something under the tree, and then waking up and finding
something given to you on that day makes a big difference."

Later last
week, the rest of the Carolina family was given the opportunity to contribute.
For the second straight year, the Smith Center hosted a massive Toys for Tots
drive. All attendees at the East Tennessee State game were invited to bring a
new, unwrapped toy, and fans responded with 805 toys. This year's event saw
significantly more promotion than last year's effort, and the result was more
than twice the 354 toys donated in 2011. Overall, Orange County Toys for Tots
wants to collect 5,000 toys for needy children this holiday season.

The strong
turnout on Saturday night made a tangible difference for the organization. "I
would estimate that if we had to buy that many toys, it would cost about
$10,000 to $12,000," said Sharron Hinton, one of the local Toys for Tots
coordinators. "Having a connection with UNC basketball is a huge benefit for
our campaign."

For what
was likely the first time in his life, current Tar Heel Sports Radio Network
analyst and former Carolina center Eric Montross was able to play point
guard...at least, in terms of the project. After being contacted last fall by
Toys for Tots, big double-zero coordinated much of the effort on the UNC side,
and he has also received help from--among others--Rick Steinbacher, Michael
Beale, Angie Bitting and Ginny Ellis. The biggest assist, of course, came from
the Carolina fans who made the event a success, with the potential for even
more growth in the future.

Fans can
still contribute to the Toys for Tots drive. Visit the organization's website for a list of toy collection sites or to make a donation.